Structural elements for beds



Dex. 15, 1964 J. N. STAFFORD 3,160,895

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS FOR BEDS Filed Aug. 2, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec.15, 1964 J. N. STAFFORD 3,160,895

sssssssssssssssssssssss 0s Fi 11111 11111 e2 Dec. 15, 1964 J. N.STAFFORD STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS FOR BEDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 2,1962 United States Patent Filed Aug. Claimspriority, application GregtBritain, Feb. 22, 1962,

17 ciaim. c1. -286 This invention relates to bed frames, and inparticular to rails forming said bed frames.

In particular, this invention has for an object to pro vide a structuralrail from which a wide variety of different-bed frames may be simplyconstructed, and on to which rail bed springing and other attachmentsmay be rapidly and simply mounted.

The invention pertains to a bed frame at least the parallel,longitudinal sides of which are formed from a substantially rectangularrail having a longitudinal groove in at least one wall, which groove isinclined to an adjacent wall, the rail also having a T-section slot orundercut channel in the other wall adjacent to that having said groove.7

According to a feature of the invention, the rail may be hollow and mayinclude an internal partition dividing it into two compartments boundedrespectively by the walls adjacent to that having said groove.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, variousembodiments thereof will now be described by way of example and withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a'fragmentary underneath perspective view of a preferredform of structural element or rail for incorporation in a bed frame inaccordance with this invention, 7

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of one end of one embodiment ofa bed frame in accordance with the invention and incorporating thestructural element of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of theattachment of a leg tothe bed frame of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of a bed frame inaccordance with the invention and incorporating the structural elementof FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a bed frame inaccordance with the invention and incorporating the structural elementof FIGURE 1, and

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are'perspective views of supporting devices orattachments for use in conjunction with bed frames in accordance withthe invention and incorporating the structural element of FIGURE 1,FIGURE 8 being an exploded perspective view.

A preferred form of structural element which is incorporated in all thebed frame embodiments to be described, is shown in FIGURE 1 and consistsof an'extruded or rolled rail of suitable material such' as metal, e.g.aluminum or any alloy thereof, or a thermoplastic synthetic resin. Thisrail is hollow and is approximately rectangular in cross-section, theheight of the rail being greater than its width.

A horizontal transverse partition l extends between the side walls 2 and3 of the upper hollow section or compartment 4 anda lower compartment 5,the compartment 4 being the larger of the two. The side wall 2 of therail 'is formed with an inclined channelor groove 6, the purpose ofwhich will be' explained hereinafter. The top wall 52 extendsbeyond sidewall 2 and isprovided with a depending flange 53 which cooperates withthe side wall to define groove 6.

Side wall extensions 'or flanges 2a, 3a dep ending'from by rail 11 bymeans of T-bolts 16, these bolts eachcon- -sisting of a screw-threadedshank 17 and a transverse rail and divides it into an partition 1 whichforms the lower wall of section 4, have t 3,160,895 Patented Dec. 15,1964 ice grooves6 therein" extend around the exterior of the frame plugs12 which are inserted 5 of the abutting ends of nected by means ofdie-cast into the lower compartment the rail lengths. 1

The springing ofthe bed frame is provided by elastic. e.g. rubber, webs13 which are secured to the frame 10 by having their ends attached toindividual U-section metal hooks 14, these hooks then being insertedinto the groove 6 I extending around so that the webs are tensionedbetween such rails.

The tension generated by such springing is sufficient to hold the bedframe together without having to resort to welding or bolting theabutting rail ends together.

The legs 15 of the'bed are attached to the lengths headpiece 18 similarin length to the width of the lower compartments of the side rail. Theheadpiece 18 is also sufficiently narrow to be capable of beingpassedthrough the slot v8 into the lower compartment 5. Each leg 15 isprovided at its uppermost point with a pair of horizontal lugs 19 eachformed with an aperture.- In order to attach a leg to the frame 10, twoT-bolts 16 are slidden sideways through the slot 8 into 5 and are thenturned through so as to lie transversely of such slot. The-lugs 19 ofthe leg 15 are then passedover the dependent shanks 17 of the bolts 16and are bolted on to these shanks by nuts 20, the compressive pressuregenerated between the heads-18 of the bolts and the nuts beingsufficient to hold the bolts and the legs in their correct positions.

A second embodiment of a bed having a frame utilizing the rail describedpreviously is shown in FIGURE 4. This bed is particularly suitable foruse in hospitals since its height is adjustable. This bed comprises abase frame 22 having four legs 23 inter-connected by rigidlongitudinaland transverse members 24, these members being spaced downwardly on onthe upper ends of each leg 23 is a bell-crank lever 25, and resting onthe bell-crank levers is a'bed frame 26 formed frorn'four lengths 27 ofthe rail of FIGURE '1 joined together to form a rectangle. arranged sothat the groove of each length is on the ex-j terior of the frame 26.

In this'embodirnent the lengths ends by weldingto four uprights each endpair of uprights being interconnected-by a bridge piece "29. .Eachbell-crank lever 25 pivotally carries a stirrup-like member 30 having aT-piece slidably engaged in the lower compartment 5 of the associatedrail length The bed frame 26 is shown in FIGURE 4 in its lowest 27 aresecured at their position, the bell-crank levers ried by the stirrups3i) sliding in the compartments '5 of the respective rail lengths 27.Furthermore,

thereof are. seated in the bed closely adjacent the pivotal axes slots-8 of the lengths 27, thus helping to keep the The free ends of thelengths 11 are located or coni the periphery of the framethe lowercompartment said legs 23. Pivotally mounted The lengths 27 are' 28, theupper" ends of the upwardly extending edges of the bell-crank levers 25'which 'are 3 frame 26 in correct alignment with respect to its baseframe 22.

If desired, means may be provided for locking the bed frame inintermediate positions between its highest and lowest positions, andsuch means may comprisea screw bolt carried by each stirrup 30, theshank of such bolt extending into the lower compartment 5. When the bedframe is to be locked in an adjusted position, each bolt is screwed sothat the head of the shank thereof engages on the lower side of thepartitions and prevents'further sliding movement of the T-pieces of thestirrups.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5, the bed frame 31 comprises a singlelength of the rail of FIGURE 1,

, bent into a U with the groove 6 at the exterior of. the U.

The free ends of the U are connected to an end frame 32 comprising apair of uprights33 joined at their upper ends by a bridge piece 34 andeach provided at its'lower end with a horizontal limb (not shown) whichfits into the lower compartment of the ends of the rail, the end frame32 thus providing a handle by means of which the bed can be pushed, or,for example, when used as a hospital bed,'a head rest.

The legs 35 of the bed are each provided with ground wheels 36 and aresecured to the frame in a manner similar to that described in the firstembodiment;

All the embodiments of beds described are particularly suitable for usein hospitals as attachments may easily be secured to the bed frame forsupporting, for example, plasma bottles and other surgical or medicinalequipment.

Three devices for supporting such attachments are shown in FIGURES 6,7,-and 8 of the accompanying drawings. a

The device 37 shown in FIGURE 6 is approximately U-shapedincross-section and the upper limb'38 thereof is provided with a shortvertical flange 39 adapted to be located in the groove 6 of a rail asshown in FIGURE 1 Whilst the lower limb is provided with an overturnedflange 40 (shown partially in dotted lines) and adapted to extend aroundthe outermost edge of the slot 8 of the rail. The support member 37 islocked in any desired position on the rail by means of a screw bolt 41carrying a pressure-transmitting plate 42. A vertical rod 43 is weldedto the member 37,'and the upper portion of this rod may be furnishedwith, for example, one or more clamps or trays.

The support device shown in FIGURE 7 is similar in shape to the device37. However, the means for locking the device in position on the rail ofFIGURE 1 comprise a lever 44 pivotally mounted in an aperture 45 andhaving a camming-surface 46 for engaging the side wallof the rail sothat when the lever is depressed, the support member is locked inposition on the rail.

The device 47 shown in FIGURE 8 differs from the devices of FIGURES 6and 7 in that the lower limb 48 of this device is not provided with anoverturned flange. Instead the limb 48 is adapted to extend across theslot 8 in the lower compartment 5 of a rail length. This lowerlimbcarries a plug 49 having an elongated head 50 housed in the lowercompartment 5. This plugcan be rotated by means of a handle 51 so'a s:towedge-the head Sti'against the side walls 2a, 3a of the compartment 5and lock the device in any required position. Another form of asupporting device .(not shown) comprises a substantially L-shapedattachment plate having a horizontal limb for bolting to the undersideof the rail of FIGURE 1 with T-b'olts and an angled flange,

for co-operation with the groove 6 of the rail.

Furthermore, the inclined grooves 6 in the rails of bed framesconstructed from such rails maybe employed for other purposes thanreceiving' iwebs or flanges of supporting devices. For example, thegrooves 6 may be used to support ordinary. bed springing of thelinked'or' chain type when such springing'is provided with suitablehooks for engaging in the grooves.

Furthermore, fracture boardsmay .be slung between 4 the side rails of abed by means of hooks engaging in these grooves 65.

If desired, the rails used in the construction of the beds describedhereinbefore may have two inclined grooves 6, there being one groove oneach side of the rail.

When the rails have two grooves 6, the frames formed from such lengthswill have both an outwardly-directed peripheral groove and aninwardly-directed groove. The inwardly-directed groove can be used, forinstance, to receive bracing bars which brace the bed frame.

The bed frames for the beds described hereinbefore are capable ofconsiderable modification. For example, a rectangular bed frame may bemade from four lengths of extruded rail i.e., from two end rails 11a andtwo side rails 11b. The rails are located together-by four corner piecesor plugs, each corner piece comprising a pair of arms at right angles toone another, these arms being adapted to be inserted into the lowercompartments of a pair of respectively transversely and longitudinallyarranged rails and to be bolted or welded in such compartments.Alternatively, when the springing of the bed frame is under hightension, the bed frame itself may be held together by this springing,there being no need to weld or bolt together the lengths of rail formingthe bed.

The forms of the invention here described and illustrate'dare presentedmerely as examples of how the invention may be embodied and applied.Other forms, embodiments and applications of the invention, comingwithin the proper scope of the appended claims, will, of course suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim: a

1. A bed frame comprising side rails and end rails, said end rails beingunited to said side rails, at least said side rails each including atorsionally stiff, closed, substantially rectangular hollow section,dependent flanges with inturned lips thereon defining a continuousT-section slot disposed below the lower wall of said section and asecond flange disposed on the outer side wall of said section, saidsecond flange cooperating with said side wall to define a grooveextending throughout the length of said rails, said groove beinginclined relative to the horizontal.

2. A bed frame according to claim 1, including transversely disposedresilient members under tension, said resilient members interconnectinga pair of said side rails and a pair of said end rails, said slots andsaid grooves cooperating to secure the ends of said members to saidrails, a longitudinal channel formed by said T-section slot in saidrails, a right-angled spigot insertible into said channels to rigidlyconnect the ends of adjacent side and 3. A bed frame according 'to claim1, including a pinrality of legs attached to said frame, at least oneT-bolt having a solid head and a screw-threaded shank securing each saidleg in position, said depending flanges, said intur ned lips and saidslot defining an undercut channel, said head being proportioned forslideable engagement with the inner surfaces of said channel, said shankextending downwardly through said slot and inc-ans for second pair ofsid bolting each'of said legs to said frame.

4. A bed comprising a first pair of side rails, a first pair of endrails, four legs, said first pairs of side and end' rails beingconnected and supported by said legs intermediate the top and bottomthereof to form a base frame, a bell-crank lever having a long and ashort arm and pivotally mounted atits'vertex to the top of each saidleg, a second pair of side rails and a second pair of end rails'j unitedtheretoforming a bed frame, said erails each including a torsionallystiff, "closed substantially rectangular hollow section, depend entflanges with inturned lips thereon defining an undercut channel having acontinuous T-section slot=disposed groove inclined relative to thehorizontal extending 5. A bed according to claim 4, wherein the shortarms of said levers are seated in said slots to align said bed framewith said base frame when the former is in raised position, and saidlevers are angularly supported by said base frame when said bed frame isin lowered position.

6. A bed according to claim 4, including a pair of stirrups, each ofsaid stirmps being hingedly connected at each end to an opposing pair ofsaid T-pieces to maintain said second pair of side rails in mutuallyspaced relationship.

7. A bed frame comprising a pair of equal lengths of rails, said lengthshaving their ends bent through 90, means joining the free ends of saidrails in abutting relationship, each length of said rails including atorsionally 1 stiff, closed, substantially rectangular hollow section,de-

pendent flanges with inturned lips thereon defining a continuousT-section slot disposed below the lower wall of said section and asecond flange disposed on theouter side wall of said section, saidsecond flange cooperating with said side wall to define a grooveextending throughout the length of said rails, said groove beinginclined relative to the horizontal.

section, said second flange cooperating with said side 8. A bed frameaccording to claim 7 wherein said means comprises a pair of plugs, eachsaid plug disposed in an undercut channel, said channel being defined bysaid lower wall, said dependent flanges and said lips.

9. A bed frame according to claim 8, wherein said frame is held togetherby tension springing extending between said rail lengths.

10. A bed frame comprising a pair of equal lengths of rails and a pairof end frames holding said lengths in spaced parallel relationship,means joining the free ends of said lengths and said end frames, saidrails including a I end frames each comprise a pair of upright membersand a cross-bar, said cross-bar holding said upright members in parallelrelationship each of said upright members being provided with ahorizontal limb, saidlimbs being disposed in said T-section slot of atleast one of said rail lengths. V

12. A bed frame according to claim 11, wherein said upright membersprovide legs to support said bed frame.

13. A bed frame comprising a single length of rail bent'into a U-shapedform and an end frame, said'e'nd frame holding the limbs of said form inspaced relationship, said rail including a torsionallystilf, closed,substantially reotangularhollow section, dependent flanges with inturnedlips thereon defining a continuous T-section slot disposed below thelower wall of said section, and

a second flange disposed on the outer side wall of said wall to define agroove extending throughout the length of said rails, said groove beinginclined relative to the horizontal.

14. A bed frame according to claim 13, wherein said J end framecomprises a pair of upright members and a cross-bar holding said membersin parallel relationship,

each upright being provided with a horizontal limp disupright memberssupporting said side and end rails, said.

side and end rails being vertically displaceable relative to saidupright members. 'i

16. A bed frame according to claim 15, wherein said slot defines anundercut channel and said bed frame includes displaceab-le means, saiddisplaceable means comprising a bell-crank lever, one end of said leverbeing pivotally mounted at the top of each of said legs, a membercarried by said lever slidably engaging said channel, 3

said levers being pivotal to and from a horizontal and. a verticalposition to alternately raise and lower said bed frame into upper andlower positions.

17. A bed according to claim 16, including means for locking said bedframe in an intermediate position be; 4 tween said upper and lowerpositions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6,390 4/49Jacques 108144X 713,405 11/02 Crawford; 5. 314x 866,695 9/07 Taussig108144X 1,041,147 10/12 Murphy 5314'X 1,133,848 3/15 Frank 5 -310x2,501,878 3/50 Shapiro 5-310 2,749,196 6/56 Wolfe, 5 '332x. 3,043,6407/62 Eames et al. 108-445 FRANK s. SHERRY, Primary Examiner, 7

1. A BED FRAME COMPRISING SIDE RAILS AND END RAILS, SAID END RAILS BEINGUNITED SIDE RAILS, AT LEAST SAID SIDE RAILS INCLUDING A TORSIONALLYSTIFF, CLOSED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR HOLLOW SECTION, DEPENDENTFLANGES WITH INTURNED LIPS THEREON DEFINING A CONTINUOUS T-SECTION SLOTDISPOSED BELOW THE LOWER WALL SAID SECTION AND A SECOND FLANGE DISPOSEDON THE OUTER SIDE WALL OF SAID SECTION, SAID SECOND FLANGE COOPERATINGWITH SAID SIDE WALL TO DEFINE A GROOVE EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTHOF SAID RAILS, SAID GROOVE BEING INCLUDING RELATIVE TO THE HORIZONTAL.